Toothbrush handles



May 27, 1958 M. PENSKY TOOTHBRUSH HANDLES OOO OOO.

OOO OOO OOO OQO 00 OQ /6 INVENTOJL j MOLLIE PENSKY MMR/v51 United States Patent O TOOTHBRUSH HANDLES Mollie Pensky, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application November 2, 1953, Serial N o. 389,595

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-143) The present invention relates generally to toothbrushes and more particularly to improvements in the handles for such brushes.

For effecting a thorough cleansing of all areas of the teeth, the accepted modern dental practice is to brush the upper teeth with a downward motion, the lower teeth with an upward motion and the grinding surfaces with a sweeping motion. When using a toothbrush of conventional design having a straightforward handle, these recommended motions are difficult to produce and can be accomplished only by raising the elbow and by `twisting movements of the arm and wrist.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the invention to provide a toothbrush with a handle which is adapted to serve as a guide for the user in naturally presenting the working face of the bristles to the surfaces to be brushed without distortion of the hand and wrist of the user.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an improved handle for a toothbrush, said handle having lateral gripping extensions or wings to facilitate the proper manipulation of the brush.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush handle having lateral, wedge-shaped extensions or wings defining linger grips for the hands of the user, so as to present the bristles correctly to the surfaces to be brushed with a natural position of the fingers and wrist regardless of whether the brush is held in the right hand or the left hand.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a handle extension of the above-described type which is simple and durable, which is effective for its intended purpose and which can be manufactured and sold at reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of the present disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the back of a toothbrush provided with a handle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar View, showing a modification of said toothbrush.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3--3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing one manner of holding the brush of Fig. 2 in use.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the back of a toothbrush provided with a removable handle attachment in accordance with another embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring element of the attachment.

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Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective View of a wing element of the attachment.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1.

Referring nowY to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, a toothbrush in accordance With the first embodiment of the invention comprises a handle 10 preferably made of plastic material and having a pair of subtantially flat parallel sides and opposing convex edges. Handle 10 is connected by a reduced neck portion 11 to a head 12 having a slight inclination relative to handle lil. vertically mounted on the flat face of head 12 are conventional bristle clumps 13. Fixedly mounted on handle 10 adjacent neck portion 11 is a linger gripping extension 14, the extension being positioned about midway between the outer extremities of head 12 and handle l0. Extension 14 is constituted by a pair of wings 15, integral with the handle 10 as illustrated in Fig. l. The wings have flat outer edges 16 terminating in straight end edges, inwardly curved or concaved upper and lower surfaces 18 and extend laterally of the handle.

ln Figs. 2-4, each wing 15 of the finger gripping extension 14 is defined by a relatively flat outer Wall 16', and inwardly curved or concave inner wall 17, whose curvature` corresponds substantially to that of the convex edges of handle 10, and tapering side walls 18' and 19', whereby the extension forms on either side of the handle, a concave linger grip. The Wings may be made of the same plastic material as that of the handle, or may be fabricated of metal. To connect the wings 15 to the handle 10 there is provided a single pin 20 having enlarged heads at the ends thereof, the pin extending through a lateral opening in handle 1t) and being ernbedded at either end in wings 15. The thickness of each wing 15' at the inner wall 17 thereof is substantially the same as that of the handle, whereas the thickness of the wing 15 at the outer wall 16 is about twice that of the handle.

ln holding the toothbrush at a convenient angle in either hand, as best seen in Fig. 4, the thumb is placed within the concave grip on the bristle side of the brush,v

while the index finger is bent and placed within the concave grip on the under side of the brush. Thus the toothbrush may be firmly held in the hand of the user while the proper motion is imparted to the bristles to produce a downward, upward or circular cleaning action as recommended by dental authorities.

While wings 15 have been shown secured to the handle by means of a connecting pin, it is to be understood that the attachment may be secured by other means. For example the wings may be made integral with the handle by moulding the handle and lateral wings as a unitary piece.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, there is shown an arrangement in accordance with the invention which does not require a specially manufactured handle, but merely the use of an attachment which may readily be coupled to the handle of a conventional toothbrush. The components of the toothbrush are identified by the same reference numerals used in Figs. 1 to 4. The attachment is constituted by a spring clip 21 formed of a resilient metal strip and constituted by a main portion 21a having a slight curvature which follows that on the underside of the handle and two U-shaped end portions 2lb and 21e which are adapted to clamp against the edges of the handle, the free ends of the clip bearing down on the bristle side of the handle. The end portions 2lb and 21e are forced into a rectangular cavity 22 formed in the wedge-shaped wings 23, said wings having a shape otherwise similar to that in Figs. 1 to 4. To attach the device to the handle, the constricted or neck portion 11 is inserted into the clip, andv the attachment is then slid along the handle to a desired longitudinal position thereon. The attachment provides the same advantages as the permanently atlxed extensions disclosed in Figs. l to 4, and the toothbrush to which the attachment is coupled is manipulated in the same Way.

While I have illustrated and describedk the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself tothe precise constructions herein disclosed and'the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A toothbrush comprising a head, an elongated handle formed integrally with the head, said handle being a substantial ilattened oval in cross-section, bristles depending from one face of the head, and a nger gripping eXten- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 110,186 Lukenbill lune 2l, 1938 D. 170,095 Schotland July 28, 1953 2,179,266 Lukenbill Nov. 7, 1939 2,267,670 Rosenwasser' Dec. 23, 1941 2,360,745 Vogel Oct. 17, 1944 2,668,398 Grossman Feb. 9, 1954 2,690,579 Backstrom Oct. 5, 1954 

